Starmer’s problem? He cares too much about Labour

There is a thought in some Westminster circles that Keir Starmer has lost the next general election already. Whether it be because of Brexit or Brexit and a bunch of other stuff, including leftover Corbyn baggage, Starmer is doomed as he stands. I believe this view is naïve and the smarter Tories I know don’t buy it for a second. Labour could still win the next election, particularly if the Conservatives get complacent. Yet if they do end up losing their fifth general election in a row, I already know why that will be.

There was a moment in the 2015 Labour leadership contest that stands out for me, as it did for many at the time. During a hustings, Andy Burnham fielded a question about getting rid of the next Labour leader if they turned out to be rubbish, one that became painfully prescient given the result of that contest.